Trolley-wire cleaner.



Patented Nov 23, 1899.

a. nurmms. TBOLLEY WIRE CLEANER.

n filed Mar. 14, 189

"NIT-ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT DUNNING, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

TROLLEY-WIRE CLEANER.

SPECIFICATION forrningpart of Letters Patent No. 638,047, dated November as, i899.

Application filed March 14, 1899. Serial No. 708,986. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT DUNNING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buifalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Trolley-VVire Cleaners, of which the following is a' specification.

This invention relates to the scrapers or cleaners which are applied to the trolley-head of an electric car for removing sleet and ice from the trolley-wire or conductor in winter.

My invention has for its object to provide a scraper of this kind which can be readily attached to the head of the trolley-pole without requiring the removal of the trolley-wheel, which is firmly held against displacement and which presents effective scraping-surfaces.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the head of a trolley-pole having my improved scraper applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section of the parts. Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. at is a fragmentary transverse section, on an enlarged scale, in line 4 4, Fig. 1, the trolleywire being omitted. Figs. 5 and 6 are similar sections in lines 5 5 and 6 6, Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a central longitudinal section of the trolley-head and the scraper, showing a modified construction of the scraper.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A is the trolley-wire,and B the trolley-wheel, journaled in the fork or bifurcated head 0 of the trolley-pole O. The head 0 has the usual socket C for attaching the same to the pole.

D is myimproved scraper, which is adapted to be attached to the head of the trolley-pole and to run against theunder side of the conductor A. This scraper consists of a curved concavo-convex plate or shoe which covers the upper and the front portions of the trolley-wheel and which is curved to conform to the periphery of the wheel. The convex rear side of the scraper extends into the groove of the trolley-wheel, while on its concave outer side it is provided with outwardly-extending side flanges d for retaining the scraper in conis arranged between the jaws of the trolleyhead and preferably pivot-ed by a transverse pin 6 to a bracket or plate E, which is removably secured to the under side of the socket O of the trolley-head bya screw f. This pivotal connection permits the upper free portion of the scraper to swing toward and from the periphery of the trolley-wheel and adjust itself within certain limits to wheels of different diameters.

g represents raised scraping-ribs arranged transversely in the groove or concave outer side of the scraper and having sharp upper edges which are adapted to run against the under side of the conductor for scraping ofi any sleet or ice adhering thereto. The sharp edges of these scraping ribs are provided centrally with curved depressions g, which conformto the under side of the conductor. These scraping-ribs may be cast integral with the scraper, as shown in Fig. 7; but they are I preferably removable, so that they can be sharpened when dull or be replaced-by new ones when worn out. In the construction shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 5 of the drawings the ribs are seated at their lateral edges in radial grooves or ways h formed in the inner sides of the flanges d of the scraper and are secured therein by radial screws 4;, passing through openings formed in the bottom of the scraper and entering openings formed in the inner edges of the scraping-ribs, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The inner sides of the flanges 01 preferably converge inwardly or toward the periphery of the trolley-wheel, and the lateral edges of the scraping-ribs are correspondingly beveled, as shown in Fig. 5, so that the ribs are tightly wedged between the flanges of the scraper upon tightening the screws 2'. As shown in the drawings, the side flanges (1 extend outwardly beyond the scraping-ribs, so that when the scraper bears against the conductor the flanges stand on opposite sides of the conductor and retain the scraper against the same. The scraping-ribs are arranged at suitable intervals, and asufficient number of the same is employed-say three, as shownso that one or two ribs are presented to the conductor in all positions assumed by the trolley head. These flanges are provided near the bottom of the scraper with a num her of openings j for the escape of any detached ice or sleet that may drop between the scraping-ribs, thereby preventing the ice and sleet from packing between the ribs and forming a practically smooth bearing-surface with the same.

It represents vertical retaining lips or lugs formed on the side flanges of the scraper D at or near the front and rear ends thereof and overlapping or embracing the grooved rim of the trolley-wheel. These lugs hold the upper portion of the scraper against lateral displacement on the trolley-wheel and relieve its pivot e from the side strains to which the scraper is subjected.

Z is a lip or shelf which is arranged on the lower front portion of the scraper D and extends forwardly over the upper side of the attaching-socket C of the trolley-head. This shelf sheds any falling ice or sleet from the joint or gap between the scraper and said socket.

When the scraper is applied to the trolleyhead, it rests loosely against the grooved rim of the trolley-wheel, the scraper being held in place against the Wheel by the upward pressure produced by the spring of the trolley-pole.

In the modified construction of the scraper shown in Fig. 7 the same is rigidly secured to the trolley-head by the screw f, which passes through a lug m formed at the lower end of the scraper-shank and bearing, against the under side of the attaching-socket G In both of the constructions shown the I scraper can be quickly detached from the trolley-head by simply removing the screw f, and when the scraper is removed the trolley-wheel is free to run against the conductor like an ordinary trolley-wheel.

I claim as my invention 1. A scraper adapted to be attached to a trolley-head and consisting of a plate of concavo-convex cross-section whichis curved to conform to the periphery of the trolley-wheel and provided in its grooved or concave face with a transverse scraper rib or ribs and in the Walls of said groove with openings for the escape of sleet and ice, substantially as set forth.

2. A scraper adapted to be attached to a trolley-head and consisting of a curved plate or shoe adapted to extend over the upper portion of the trolley-wheel and provided in its outer face with a longitudinal groove and a transverse scraping rib or ribs removably secured in the groove of the scraper, substantially as set forth.

3. A scraper adapted to be attached to a trolley-head, and consisting of a curved plate or shoe adapted to extend over the upper portion of the trolley-wheel and provided in its outer face with a longitudinal groove provided in its side walls with ways which extend from the outer edge of said walls to the bottom of the groove, removable scraping-ribs arranged in said ways, and a fastening for retaining the ribs in place, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 10th day of March, 1899.

ROBERT DUNNING.

Witnesses:

JNo. J. BONNER, THEo. L. POPP. 

